Dykema Garners High Rankings In Chambers USA

Press Releases

6.20.11

DETROIT—Leading law firm, Dykema Gossett PLLC and its attorneys have garnered high rankings in multiple practice areas and in key regional markets in the 2011 Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business guide. The firm was ranked in four distinct practice areas and 13 attorneys, representing multiple offices and practice areas, were ranked individually.

Dykema ranked highly in Michigan in Corporate/M&A, with sources commenting that "members of this firm go out of their way to keep us updated and informed about market trends." Also earning high rankings in Michigan were the firm's Labor & Employment and Litigation: General Commercial practices. With regard to Labor & Employment, clients describe the firm's practice as "housing some of the finest practitioners in the state." About Dykema's Litigation: General Commercial practice, sources say "we have only ever enjoyed positive experiences with Dykema."

The firm earned rankings in Real Estate in both Michigan and Illinois. Sources in Michigan say Dykema's team "has a tremendous amount of resources and expertise in what it does." In Illinois, clients describe the Real Estate practice as "one of the leading groups in the market, particularly for commercial real estate loans."

Among the 13 ranked attorneys, four of the firm's 10 offices and six practice areas were represented:

Labor & Employment

Joseph A. Ritok, Jr., Michigan—For the second year in a row Ritok earned the highest Chambers ranking. As co-leader of the firm's Labor & Employment practice, Ritok's national practice is focused on the defense of management in complex labor and employment matters, including in the areas of both litigation and traditional labor. Chambers researchers reported that peers praise Ritok for the "tremendous strength" of his practice.

Martin Jay Galvin, Michigan—Galvin's practice is concentrated on representing management in tradition labor, employment litigation and appellate matters. For over three decades, he has represented clients in collective bargaining negotiations, arbitration hearings, union issues, unfair labor practice proceedings, occupational safety matters, and wage and hour hearings. Clients report that Galvin's "analytical reasoning is unbeatable."

Corporate/M&A

J. Michael Bernard, Michigan—As leader of Dykema's Corporate Finance group, Bernard focuses his practice on business planning, general corporate and securities matters, particularly those relating to public and private offerings. He has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions across a broad spectrum of industries including automotive, manufacturing and technology.

Aleksandra A. Miziolek, Michigan—Dykema's Automotive Industry Group leader concentrates her practice on infrastructure and project finance and is largely focused on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and SEC disclosure matters. As a testament to the strength of her practice, Chambers cites Miziolek's management of a complex series of transactions involving the purchase and orderly divestiture of 23 facilities with over $7 billion in revenues.

Jin-Kyu Koh, Michigan—Koh is the Office Managing Member of Dykema's Detroit office and co-leader of the firm's Life Sciences team. He has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions of both public and private companies. He regularly represents companies in a wide range of financing transactions and also provides general corporate representation. Interviewees report that Koh "knows how to be tactful and always leads us to a great outcome."

Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation

Margaret Adams Hunter, Michigan—Hunter heads the firm's Employee Benefits practice and is co-leader of Dykema's Tax practice. She focuses on the design, implementation and administration of pension plans, welfare plans, fringe benefit plans, stock compensation plans and executive compensation arrangements. Sources informed Chambers that Hunter is "praised for activity in executive compensation."

Litigation: General Commercial

James Feeney, Michigan—According to the Chambers guide, Feeney is exalted by clients as "a tremendous trial lawyer." He is regarded as one of the nation's most prominent trial attorneys regularly tackling high-profile, high-stakes litigation matters for the world's largest companies, particularly product liability matters for automotive clients. Throughout his career, he has been involved in nearly 1500 cases, 70 of which he has tried to verdict.

Dennis M. Haffey, Michigan – Haffey's practice focuses on business litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants, at trial and appellate levels of state and federal courts, administrative agencies, arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolutions. For six years, he headed Dykema's Litigation practice. Chambers sources describe him as having "an excellent courtroom presence and is extremely well prepared."

Litigation: General Commercial; Labor & Employment

Patrick F. Hickey, Michigan—Hickey is co-leader of Dykema's Labor & Employment group. His practice is focused in employment and commercial litigation matters, including non-compete, trade secret, ERISA and discrimination matters. He earns praise from Chambers sources for his ERISA and employment litigation practice. Hickey is also experienced in multiple forms of alternative dispute resolution.

Real Estate

Michael S. Kurtzon, Illinois—Kurtzon counsels institutional real estate lenders on a national basis in a variety of complex lending matters including loan workouts and restructurings. His clients include developers, investors, landlords, tenants and lenders. Chambers research describes Kurtzon as having accumulated "extensive knowledge" throughout his more than 30 year career. Clients view him as a "brilliantly helpful lawyer who always knows exactly what we need."

Cameron H. Piggott, Michigan – Piggott is the director of Dykema's Real Estate and Environmental department, and serves as co-leader of the firm's Real Estate group. He practices general real estate law with an emphasis on commercial and residential development, leasing, sale, financing, foreclosure or workout for a wide range of projects, developers and other real estate users. He is also the principal author of the Michigan legislation that authorizes business improvement districts.

Brian J. Page, Michigan—Page is a commercial real estate and business attorney, who also serves as co-leader of the firm's national Lending team. He has more than 25 years of experience focused on capital and finance, commercial real estate development, leasing, acquisitions/divestitures, construction projects and business planning matters. Sources consider Page a "leader in real estate, leasing, development and finance."

Senior Statesman

Banking & Finance: Bankruptcy

Ronald L. Rose, Michigan—Rose, the former co-leader of the firm's Bankruptcy group, concentrates his practice on bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, and commercial matters covering issues arising under the Uniform Commercial Code and the Bankruptcy Code. He also has extensive experience representing clients in real estate, healthcare and automotive insolvency matters.

About Chambers

For more than 20 years, Chambers has published the leading directories of the legal profession. The annually published guides are well-known to be the most trusted directory resource among clients. Chambers stands out for its methodology and objective rankings process, which encompasses a comprehensive view of the marketplace, top quality research including in depth client interviews, and an overall commitment to reporting integrity.